754 



Veterinary Obstetrics 



canal. Any deviation from this normal attitude is liable to result 

 in more or less serious difficult^' in the expulsion of the young 

 animal.. 



I. Flexion of the Anterior Limbs at the Elbow. 

 Anterior Limbs Incompletely Ex- 

 tended IN THE Pelvis. 



It is not ver}' rare to meet with instances in the calf and foal 

 in which the two anterior feet present in their normal position 

 and appear at the vulva, accompanied generally by the nose, 

 which is advanced to nearly the same degree as the feet them- 

 selves. At first glance the position seems to be essentially normal, 



Fig. 130. Incomplete Extension ok Anterior Limbs. 

 but, when the fetus has reached the point where the feet and nose 

 are visible, its advance becomes checked and the expulsive efforts 

 of the mother are quite unavailing to cause any further progress. 

 The interpretation of this condition varies somewhat with dif- 

 ferent writers. Fleming says : " It is usually due to the shoulders 

 not being closely applied to the chest of the fetus, and the elbows, 



